Voting checks lawsuit to be filed in federal court

ATLANTA - A special attorney general is filing a lawsuit pushing for federal court approval of two procedures to verify voters' identity and citizenship.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp says the lawsuit will be filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to obtain ``preclearance'' of its federally-required voter verification process that includes checking that voter registration applicants are U.S. citizens.

Kemp, whose office oversees elections, has accused President Barack Obama's administration of playing politics when federal officials for the third time rejected Georgia's system and said he would seek clearance instead in federal court.

In May, Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Anne W. Lewis to serve as special attorney general to represent the state in the case.